Category Archives: Older care

NHS 111 helpline put on hold after safety warnings

Half of NHS 111 lines yet to be launched after ‘national roll-out’ falls flat

The planned roll-out of the NHS 111 non-emergency line across the entire country today has been aborted amid concerns it is wasting emergency services’ time and putting patients at risk.

 

NHS England, which is overseeing the scheme, had already admitted that not all services would be ready in time for April 1 but it was still widely expected that most would meet the deadline.

By , Science Correspondent

7:30AM BST 01 Apr 2013

Easter Monday was initially meant to mark the national launch of the telephone service, which is replacing NHS Direct, but half of all 111 lines are still inactive.

Just one local service, in the North of Tyne and Tees area, will be opened today, joining 22 which are already running as pilots, but a further 23 are not yet operational.

Doctors claimed health chiefs had been forced to backtrack on plans to roll out the service after repeated warnings that the system was inefficient and could compromise patient safety.

Community car scheme will help elderly and carers in North Norfolk

Volunteer medi-car schemes set to expand in north Norfolk saving elderly stress and steep taxi fares

By alex hurrell
Friday, March 29, 2013
8:00 AM

Community car schemes which save elderly people stress and steep taxi fares look set to be rolled out over more areas of north Norfolk after a successful meeting in Cromer yesterday.

Representatives from a range of voluntary schemes in rural north Norfolk met to share their expertise with other communities which currently do not offer a service to take their residents to and from medical appointments.

Now their know-how may lead to schemes in Cromer, Sheringham and Bacton whose town and parish council representatives also attended.

Help for pensioners and carers who live in London

A winter warmer for pensioners and their carers

Friday, 25 January 2013

Victoria Borwick, Deputy Mayor and London Assembly member on our new campaign to make sure older Londoners get the benefits they’re entitled to. 

It is sad to think in these difficult times that many pensioners in London may be missing out on an extra £35 a week, or £1,800 a year in pension credits. That’s why we’re running a new campaign to raise awareness and remind older people that they are able to claim.